Fastening means for closures of automobiles, airplanes, or the like



Feb.` 7, 1939.

E. P. SONNHALTER FASTENING MEANS FOR CLOSURES OF AUTOMOBILES, AIRPLANES, OR THE LIKE Filed March lO 1936 s sheets-sheet 1' sa? O dumm Feb. 7, 1939. E. P. ysorqhu-{ALTER 2,145,993

FASTENING MEANS FOR CLOSURES OF AUTOMOBILES, AIRPLANES,' OR THE LIKE Filed-March 1o, 193e 3 sheets-sheet 3 47 gwvmtoz Patented Feb. 7,4 1939 UNITED STATES PATENToFFlcE FASTENING MEANS FOR CLUSUBES F AUTGMOBILES, AIBPLANES, 0B THE LIKE Edward P. 'Sonnhaltea Cleveland, Ohio, assignor of forty-nine per cent to William .lL Reed Lakewood, and Albert M. Moran, Cleveland;

Ohio

Application Maren v1o. lisas, serial No. 68,111

. 4 Chim This invention relates to new vand useful improvements in fastening means. for closures of amount of utility when appliedto the closed body g of a motor propelled vehicle, such as an automobile, an airplane, or the like.

A further important object of the invention is to4 provide fastening means for a closure in which there is employed one handle, or the like, which is operatively connected to lock mechanism for actuating the latter and is mounted for movement between a projected positionl where it is capable of actuating the lock. mechanism and a retracted position wherein it occupies a recess or depression; the handle and the recess or depression being so shaped that the handle will not project beyond the face of- Vthe closure on which it is mounted with the result that a more perfect streamlining of the'closure will be accomplished andthe handle will be held against actuation to effect operation of the lock mechanism. Another important object of the invention is to provide fastening means for a closure which includes a lock mechanism operating handle adapted to be retracted from 'a lock operationv position to a position within a depression formed in one face of the closure and with the depression and the'handle being shapedI so as to prevent lock actuating movement of the handle and with means operable from a point remote to the said handle to effect movement of the latter between its projected and retracted positions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lock mechanism operating handle for a4 vehicle closure which may be retracted into a depression formed in the surface of` the closure with the result that a collision between the vehicle and a pedestrian cannot possibly result in painful and permanent injuries to the pedestrian due to contacting with a projecting handle, as

often occurs. a

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. l

In the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts' throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a motor vehicle door with the invention applied thereto,

Figure 2 isy an outside elevational view,l with parts' of the door structure removed, to fully illustrate the fastening means for the door with the mechanism for effecting movement of the handle disclosed in Fig. l, between its projected and discloses the mechanism employed f or effecting movement of the outside handle between its two possible positions and with the said mechanism actuated -to effect retraction of the bolt of the door locking mechanism,

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the door and the fastening mechanism incorporated therein, i

Figure 6 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Figure 'l is a vertical sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2,

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on lines 8-8 of Fig. 2,-

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view'taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2,A and Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line ID-lll of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of this invention, the reference character il in Fig. 1 designates in its entirety the door of a closed body of an automobile, an airplane, or the like which, in its closed position, is adapted to be locked or fastened to the wall portion l2 of the vehicle body. Figures 5 and 'I illustrate the door Il as including an inside panel member I3 which, preferably, is made of sheet metal and is formed with` a laterally bent portion i4 which functions as the free edge of the door. An inwardly bent Y pression l and registers accurately therewith.

Suitably secured t0 the inner panel i3 of the door is a lock plate 2| having formed' on one vertical edge a ange l22 secured in any desired manner to the edge portion I4 of the door. The

flange .22 and the door portion I4 are formed'v The yhorizontally projecting shank portion is reprove streamliningof the door.

.the shaft 38.A

ceived within a guide by an offset strap 21 fastened to the lock plate 2|. y

The downwardly projecting shank portion 215 of the bolt has struck inwardly therefrom a tongue 28 against which bears an end 29 of the spring 30. This spring functions to constantlyr urge the bolt 24 toward its door locking position. A cushioning member, such as a block of.rubber 3|, is fastened to the lock plate 2| above the bolt 24 to be engaged by a projection 32 carried by the bolt. This rubber block 3| cushions the movement of the bolt into its locking position under the yiniluence of the spring 30.

A projection is carried by the forwardend of the horizontal shank portion 28 of the blt and is engagedI by .the camming arm 36 of the b'olt operating roll-back 31 which is carried 'by Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the shaft 38 as being square in cross section and as having slidablyff telescoped thereon the hollow shank 38 ofa handle 40. 'This handle 4 0 has its Shank 3.9 extending in apertures formed in the ilange I 5; the door panel I8, andthe plate I 8 so thatthe said handle will be positioned exteriorly of the door II.` The handle is illustrated in Figs. 1, 5 and 1 as` being of horizontally elongated formation correponding with the formation of the opening 28 and depression I9l formed in the panel I8 and plate I8 respectively. It will be appreciated that the manner-in which the tubular shank 38 and the shaft 38 are telescoplcally associated will permit the handle 48 to be moved longitudinally of the shaft 38 between a projected position illustrated in dot and dash lines in Figs. ll and 5 anda retracted position illustrated in full lines in Figs. 1, 5 and 7. When in its retracted position, the handle! will occupy the opening 28 formed in the panel I8, and ,the depression vI8 formed in the plate |8. When in this retracted position, the handle will notproject. materially be` yo'nd the faceof the panel I8.- Itwill present a very neat appearance and will materially im- Should the vehicle equipped with this handle, and itswassoci-n ated door fastening mechanism, collide'with a pedestrian, there will'be no danger of the handle, when in its retracted position, inflicting painful and permanent injury to the pedestrian which would be possibleif the handle were projected.

' Due to the squared formations ofthe shaft38 and the bore of the handle shank, rotation of the handle 48wi11 elect rotationi' the' shaft 38. rotation of the handle 48. however, .can only take place' when the latter is in its projected position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. ,When in its retracted position, the handle 48 is retained.- against rotation by the 28'fand aperture I8. Rotation 'of ,the shaft 38will effect pivotal, movement ofthe roll-back 31 with the result l '70- tnst thehun u win be itsunlocked position.

Figures 2 to 4 inclmive tally extending shank portion 28 of the-bolt as ,being provided with allaterally projecting lug 4|- retracted, or moved into 'uz'wmcn rides within a not!! iofrmedin the lock plate 2|. Horizontally alined with the shank portion 26 of. the bolt and underlying the same is a slide 43. rIYhis slide is guided by the strap 21, previously referred to as'being carried by the lock plate 2I and by a finger 44 which depends from the slide 43 and is received within a guide or trackway 45 to further assist in guiding the slidevand retaining the' latter ush against the face of the lock plate 2|. 'Ihis slide is illustrated in- Figs. 2, 3 and 4 as having an upwardly projecting` finger 46 adapted to 'engage the lug 4I carried by the shank 28 of the bolt when the slide 43 is moved horizontally in a direction inwardly ofthe edge of the door II. It will be appreciated, however,that this connection beside of the door I'I. The shaft 48 for this handle is journaled in an aperture fori'ed-in the inner panel I3 of the door and in a bracket 5I secured to this panel. It will vbe appreciated that the lever arm 48 and the handle 50 cooperate to form a bell crank'lever. t further will be appreciated that the link 4'l and the lever arm 48 cooperate to produce a toggle joint which maybe moved from the positions illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, wherethe said toggle joint is arranged on one side of the center line between the shaft 48 and the point of pivotal connection between the slide v43 and the link41, to a position slightlyl beyond dead center in the opposite direction, as

' illustrated in Fig. 2. A stop pin 52 is provided to limit` movement ofthe toggle joint past dead center in this latter direction.

It will be appreciated that'the handle 50 is illustrated in Fig. 3 in its normal position. By moving the handle 50 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4, the lever arm 48 and link 41 will'function to move the slide 43 in a direction to retract the bolt 24. Return `movement of the handle 58 from the` position of Fig. 't to the position of Fig. 3, of course, will permit .the spring. to again project the bolt 24. v

It has been found desirable to employ the handle 88. located on the inner side ofthe door II to effect retraction of theoutside handle 40 into the opening 28,'and depression- I 8' previously re ferred to. This is accomplished by a bell crank lever 8 3 whichis pivoted at 84 to the door panel u. The beu 'crank leveis prdvided 'with a pm and slot, lost niotion connection with the link v 41. The remaining arm of the bell crank lever 53 is' provided with a laterally projectingear 56 v.which engages a flange 81, .see Fig. 7, formed on the arm 88 of a second bell crank leve'r 89.v The second arm 88' of this bell crank lever .89" has its extremity 8| received within the forked portion 82 of a split' sleeve'83 which is fastened to theshank 38 ofthe handle". ".lhe' splitsleevev 83 is connected to theshank v38 in a manner to .prevent rotation vand axial movement of the sleeve relative to the shank. A spring 84 is pro.-

v idedtobear against the arm 88 of the bell crank lever 83 for noimally biasing this belll crank eilects pivotal movement of the bell crank lever I3 and this pivotal movement in turn effects pivotal movement of the second bell crank lever 5 9 into the position illustrated in Fig. 7. Movement of the second bell crank lever 59 draws the shank 39 inwardly to retract the handle 40. When the inside handle 50 is lreturned'toits normal position, of Figi 3, from the position shown in Fig. 2, the spring 6I will 'function to return the bell-crank lever 69 t'o its normal posltion which projects the outside handle I out assembly possesses `travel, such as an automobile or oi its' aperture and depression 20 and i9 respectively. I It now will be appreciated that the inside han- `dle Il constitutes a remotely controlled operating member for retracting the door securing bolt-2l from the inside of the vehicleA and for retracting the handle Il from its projected position. These two operations are accomplished by moving the handle 5l in opposite directions from its normal position. It further will be appreciated'that this entire greatest merit when applied designed for rapid an airplane. The assembly, however, possesses considerable utility when applied to many other objects, such as safes, cabinets, or any other object of 'whatsoever description on whicha handle can be used for,actuating fastening means for the retraction of the handle linto movement of this handle to eiect actuation of the to the closure of a vehicle boit ze of the lock mecnamsm. It further wm be appreciated that other forms of control than the second or inside4 handle 50 may be provided for eilecting movement of the outside handle 40 between its two desired positions.

It -is t6 be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown'anddescribed is to be taken as .a preferred'example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit. .of the invention or the scope-,of the subjoined claims. Having thus described the invention, I claim:

l. ipa lockmechanismfor a doorhaving 'a' depression. formed in one side face' thereof, said 'lock mechanism comprising a handle operatively connected tothe lock mechanism, handleg having ajshank slidablyprojecting through anaperture in said door i'ace to pemitthe'nsndie aimons a toggle joint its depression preventing to be moved between a projected position and a retracted position' occupying said depression. a second handle movably mounted on the opposite side of the door, a train of mechanical elements interconnecting the second handle to mechanism 4to enect operation of said mechanism by said handle, and a second train of mechanical elements interconnecting the mst-mentioned handle and the mst-mentioned train at a point intermediate the extremities oi the later to effect movement oi said rst handle between said two positions by means of the second handle.

2. In a lock mechanism for a door having a depression formed in .one side face thereof, said lock mechanism comprising a handle operativelyconnected to the lock mechanism. said handle having a shankslidably projecting through an aperture in said door face to permit the handle vto be moved between a projected position and a retracted position occupying said depression, spring lmeans for projecting the handle, a second the lock handle rotatably mounted on the other side of' a link and lever system including connecting said handles to cause rotation of the second handle to eiect retraction of the rst handle into the' depression and to cause movement of the toggle joint past dead center in one direction to retain the handle in the depression.

3.l In a lock mechanism for a door having a depression formed in one side face thereof, said lock mechanism comprising a handle operatively connected to the'lock mechanism, said handle having 'a portion projecting through an apertureA the door, and

in said door face to permit the handle to be movedl between a projected position and a retracted position occupying said depression, a second handle rotatably mounted on the other side of the door,

vand Aa link and lever system including a toggle joint connecting said handles to cause rotation.'

of said second handle to eect retraction of said iirst handle into the depression and'cause 'said toggle 'joint to assume a position to retain the handle in the depression.

4. In a lock mechanism depression formed in one side face thereof, said lock 'mechanism comprising a handle operatively connected to the lock mechanism', said handle having a portion projecting through an aperture in said door face to. permit the handle to be moved between a projected1position and a retracted position occupying said depression, means torprojecting the handle, and means controlled from a remote point located out of axial alignment with the `handle for' retracting the handle into said depression and retaining it therein, said last mentioned means embracing a link and lever for a door having a .system including a toggle joint adaptedto assume.

a position, when said handlels retracted into said EDWARD P.

.rian- 

